Stiven Shpendi

Stiven Shpendi (born 19 May 2003) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Empoli, on loan from Cesena. He also plays for the Albania under-21 national team.

Stiven Shpendi

Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003 (age 20)
Place of birth	Ancona, Italy
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Empoli (on loan from Cesena)
Number	7
Youth career
	Real Metauro
	Delfino Fano
0000–2019	San Marino
2019–2021	Cesena
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Cesena	31	(12)
2023–	→ Empoli (loan)	10	(0)
International career^‡
2021	Albania U19	8	(3)
2022	Albania U20	2	(1)
2022–	Albania U21	8	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 January 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 October 2023

Club career

Early career

Stiven was born in Ancona, Italy. His parents are originally from Pukë and had emigrated from Albania in 1997; they hold dual citizenship.^[1] His twin brother is footballer Cristian Shpendi. Their first team was Real Metauro, from where they moved to Delfino Fano and then to San Marino academy until they went to Cesena.^[2]

Shpendi made his professional debut on 10 October 2021 against Ancona-Matelica in the 2021–22 Serie C, replacing Mattia Bortolussi in the last minutes of the match.^[3] In February 2022, he (along with his brother) signed a new deal through June 2025.^[4] He concluded his first season with the senior squad by making two appearances.^[5]

2022–23 season

Shpendi begun the new season by scoring his first professional goal in team's 2–1 win against Carrarese on 4 September 2022.^[6] After cementing his place in the lineup in the first weeks of the season,^[5] he fell out of favor as manager Toscano relegated him to bench for the next five league games.^[5] Shpendi played as a substitute in the matchday 14 against Ancona-Matelica, and a week later returned as a starter against Olbia, but suffered a knee injury which kept him sidelined for the next two weeks.^[5]

Shpendi returned from injury on 10 December 2022, by appearing as a second-half substitute against Vis Pesaro, scoring his side's winning goal in the process.^[7][8] Later on in the season, he regained his spot in the starting line-up, notably scoring a brace in a 3–0 away win over Pontedera, as Cesena climbed to the second spot in the championship.^[9][10]

Empoli

On 5 August 2023, Shpendi joined Serie A club Empoli on a two-season loan, with an obligation to buy.^[11][12] It was reported that the deal commanded a €2 million fee, plus €400,000 in add-ons, and a 15% sell-on clause in favor of Cesena.^[12]

He made his debut for the club on 12 August 2023, coming on as a substitute for Liam Henderson in the 67th minute of a 2–1 Coppa Italia loss to Cittadella.^[13] He then made his top-flight debut one week later, coming on for Matteo Cancellieri in the 70th minute of a 1–0 home defeat to Hellas Verona.^[14]

International career

In November 2021, Shpendi was called up to the Albania national under-19 team by coach Armando Cungu to participate in the 2020 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification Group 7 where his side were shorted to play against France, Serbia and North Macedonia.^[15] He made his international debut in the first match on 10 November 2021 versus France playing in the starting line up and being substituted at half time exactly for his twin Cristian where his side got beaten 4–0.^[16] Then for the next two games he started from the bench to be acttivated only in the closing match against North Macedonia in the last 8 minutes with Albania U19 collecting a 3–1 victory to go on 4 points same as Serbia but failing to qualify due to the goal difference thus ranking in the 3rd place of the group.^[17]

He subsequently played for the Albania under-20 managed by coach Alban Bushi in September 2022 in Croatia against North Macedonia and Croatia where his side lost both matches with the same result 3–1^[18] with Shpendi scoring the only goal against Croatia.^[19]

Coach Alban Bushi then gave the twins their debut with Albania under-21 on 16 November 2022 including in the starting line up.^[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of 16 January 2024 ^[5][21]

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe^[a]		Other^[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cesena	2021–22	Serie C	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2022–23		29	12	1	0	—		4	0	34	12
	Total		31	12	1	0	0	0	4	0	36	12
Empoli	2023–24	Serie A	10	0	1	0	—		—		11	0
Career total			41	12	2	0	0	0	4	0	47	12

1. Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
2. Including other competitions, such as Supercups

References

1. "Binjakët nga Puka nënshkruajnë deri në vitin 2025 me ekipin e njohur italian Cezena" [Twins from Pukë sing until year 2025 with wellknown italian team] (in Albanian). SHKODRA SPORT. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023. Sulmuesit e vitlindjes 2003 qe jane me origjine nga Puka, prej disa sezonesh janë pjesë e skuadrës italiane, ndërsa forma e tyre ka bërë që të vijë edhe rinovimi me tre vite.
2. "IO E CRISTIAN, INSIEME AL MANUZZI" [Me and Cristian, together at Manuzzi] (PDF) (in Italian). Cesena F.C. Retrieved 3 January 2023. La mia famiglia è in Italia dal 1997, infatti siamo nati ad Ancona e abbiamo vissuto a Fano, abbiamo la doppia cittadinanza. La nostra prima squadra è stata la Real Metauro, poi siamo stati alla Delfino Fano, al San Marino e infine al Cesena. È il nostro terzo anno qui, ci siamo sempre trasferiti insieme».
3. "Cesena vs. Ancona-Matelica". Soccerway. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
4. "ZYRTARE/ Kontratë deri në 2025, binjakët e Kombëtares rinovojnë me ekipin italian" [OFFICIAL/ Contract until 2025, twins of national team renewing with italian team] (in Albanian). Newsport.al. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
5. Stiven Shpendi at Soccerway
6. "Cesena vs. Carrarese". Soccerway. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
7. "Vis Pesaro - Cesena" (in Italian). Cesena. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
8. ""Un'emozione incredibile"" (in Italian). Cesena. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
9. "Pontedera vs. Cesena". Soccerway. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
10. "VIDEO/ Stiven Shpendi tund dy herë rrjetën në Itali, skuadra e tij konfirmohet pretendente për Serinë B" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
11. "Stiven Shpendi è un nuovo calciatore azzurro" (Press release). Empoli. 5 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
12. Bartalini, Francesco (9 August 2023). "Il doppio salto di Stiven Shpendi. «Vengo a Empoli per imparare»". Il Tirreno (in Italian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
13. Barni, Gianluca (12 August 2023). "Coppa Italia, il Cittadella in rimonta elimina l'Empoli: 1-2". La Nazione (in Italian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
14. "Empoli-Verona 0-1, Bonazzoli lascia subito il segno". la Repubblica (in Italian). 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
15. "U-19/ Europiani U-19/ Trajneri Cungu zbardh listën me 22 lojtarët e grumbulluar" [European U-19/ Coach Cungu clear up the list with 22 footballers gathered] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
16. "France-Albania - Under-19 2022". UEFA. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
17. "U-19/ Shqipëria mbyll kualifikueset me fitore ndaj Maqedonisë së Veriut" [U-19/ Albania concluded qualifiers with a win against North Macedonia] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
18. "Shqipëria U20 mundet nga Maqedonia e Veriut" [Albania U20 beat North Macedonia] (in Albanian). RTSH Sport. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
19. "U-20/ Shqipëria mbyll miqësoret e shtatorit ndaj Kroacisë" [U-20/ Albania ended up September's friendlies against Croatia] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
20. "Shpresat, 3 gola në pjesën e parë mjaftojnë për fitoren në San Marino" [Hopes, 3 goals in the first half enough for the victory in San Marino] (in Albanian). AlbanianSport.net. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
21. "Profile of Stiven Shpendi: Info, news, matches and statistics". BeSoccer. Retrieved 5 January 2023.

External links

• Stiven Shpendi – UEFA competition record ()
• Stiven Shpendi at WorldFootball.net
• Stiven Shpendi at FootballDatabase.eu